ID :
146684
Tue, 10/19/2010 - 18:35
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/146684
The shortlink copeid
NO TIME FRAME FOR TIMBER VPA WITH EU, SAYS MINISTER
KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 19 (Bernama) -- The Ministry of Plantation Industries and
Commodities says the Voluntary Partnerships Agreement (VPA)negotiations between
Malaysia and the European Union (EU) has no time frame.
"As far as I know there is no time frame. However, the EU has indicated it wants
the VPA to be concluded before the EU Timber Regulation comes into force in
2013," its Minister, Bernard Dompok said.
He was speaking to reporters after witnessing the signing of a Management
Agreement between the Malaysian Timber Council (MTC), the National Institute of
Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) and the Environment Protection Department
(EPD)Sabah for capacity building projects under the FLEGT German-Netherlands
support programme, here Tuesday.
Asked about the progress of the VPA negotiations, he said: "At this point in
time, I have been told, Malaysia can opt out if the VPA is not what we
envisioned."
In June this year, Washington-based pro-development group, World Growth issued a
report which stated the EU Forest Law Enforcement, Governance and Trade (FLEGT)
programme, also known as VPA, threatens to restrict imports unless developing
country exporters use the EU standards in forestry.
The report also indicated that the FLEGT demands developing country
exporting partners surrender their World Trade Organisation (WTO) rights to resist
such trade coercion.
"The EU has tied restrictions on imports of wood pellets to compliance by
exporters with EU forestry and land management standards," said its Chairman,
Alan Oxley in the report.
On top of that, the European Parliament has adopted a "due diligence" directive which would obligate all purchasers of timber products, including importers, to demonstrate they are legally produced.
When asked to comment on the World Growth report today, Dompok said it was not fair to say anything at the moment as various parties need to look at the issue as it arises.
"We must remember the forest is a state matter. For instance, Sarawak does not see an urgency in signing the VPA, as their main market is not skewed towards Europe," he added.
To date, the EU had concluded VPAs with Ghana, Congo and Cameroon, while negotiations are still undergoing with Malaysia, Indonesia, Liberia and Central Africa.
The EU and China have also established a bilateral coordination mechanism (BCM),providing a framework for policy dialogue and joint activities.
Commodities says the Voluntary Partnerships Agreement (VPA)negotiations between
Malaysia and the European Union (EU) has no time frame.
"As far as I know there is no time frame. However, the EU has indicated it wants
the VPA to be concluded before the EU Timber Regulation comes into force in
2013," its Minister, Bernard Dompok said.
He was speaking to reporters after witnessing the signing of a Management
Agreement between the Malaysian Timber Council (MTC), the National Institute of
Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) and the Environment Protection Department
(EPD)Sabah for capacity building projects under the FLEGT German-Netherlands
support programme, here Tuesday.
Asked about the progress of the VPA negotiations, he said: "At this point in
time, I have been told, Malaysia can opt out if the VPA is not what we
envisioned."
In June this year, Washington-based pro-development group, World Growth issued a
report which stated the EU Forest Law Enforcement, Governance and Trade (FLEGT)
programme, also known as VPA, threatens to restrict imports unless developing
country exporters use the EU standards in forestry.
The report also indicated that the FLEGT demands developing country
exporting partners surrender their World Trade Organisation (WTO) rights to resist
such trade coercion.
"The EU has tied restrictions on imports of wood pellets to compliance by
exporters with EU forestry and land management standards," said its Chairman,
Alan Oxley in the report.
On top of that, the European Parliament has adopted a "due diligence" directive which would obligate all purchasers of timber products, including importers, to demonstrate they are legally produced.
When asked to comment on the World Growth report today, Dompok said it was not fair to say anything at the moment as various parties need to look at the issue as it arises.
"We must remember the forest is a state matter. For instance, Sarawak does not see an urgency in signing the VPA, as their main market is not skewed towards Europe," he added.
To date, the EU had concluded VPAs with Ghana, Congo and Cameroon, while negotiations are still undergoing with Malaysia, Indonesia, Liberia and Central Africa.
The EU and China have also established a bilateral coordination mechanism (BCM),providing a framework for policy dialogue and joint activities.
